SEOUL-- South Korea's top economic policymaker on Thursday met with the Chinese ambassador to Seoul to discuss ways to bolster economic cooperation following the latest efforts to improve bilateral relations.

"I highly anticipate that the economic ties between South Korea and China will become stronger," Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon said in a meeting with Beijing envoy Qui Guohong.

Seoul-Beijing relations have been at its lowest ebb due to China's protest against the deployment of the THAAD missile defense system in South Korea.

The two countries agreed to normalize their ties in a joint statement issued by their foreign ministries on Oct. 31 and their presidents confirmed the decision at a summit meeting last week.

Kim cited the recent extension of the currency swap deal worth 64 trillion won (US$55 billion) with China last month, saying that the arrangement will also help enhance relations in a more reciprocal way.